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REPORTED SPEECH
We use it to report/mention something that someone has said previously.
STATEMENTS: We use a 'reporting verb' like 'say' or 'tell'1, among many others.
Tense
Direct Speech
Reported Speech
present simple
present
continuous
I am living in London
past simple
I bought a car
She said (that) she had bought a car OR She said (that) she bought a
car.
past continuous
She said (that) she had been walking along the street.
present perfect
past perfect*
will
would*
can
could*
She said (that) she could swim when she was four.
shall
TEACHER FONSI 2
BOULEVARD ENGLISH CENTER
should*
might*
must
She said (that) she must study at the weekend OR She said she had
to study at the weekend
* doesn't change.
Occasionally, we don't need to change the present tense into the past if the information in direct speech is
still true (but this is only for things which are general facts)
TIME EXPRESSIONS WITH REPORTED SPEECH
Sometimes when we change direct speech into reported speech we have to change time expressions too. We
don't always have to do this, however. It depends on when we heard the direct speech and when we say the
reported speech. Here's a table of some possible conversions:
now then / at that time
today yesterday / that day /
yesterday the day before / the previous day /
last night the night before/the previous night
last week the week before / the previous week
tomorrow the next day / the following day/ the day after
this that
these those
here there/that place
DONT FORGET TO DO THE CHANGES IN SUBJECTS AND DO/IO!!!
Cambios en los pronombres
I
My
We
You
Your
TEACHER FONSI 3
BOULEVARD ENGLISH CENTER
REPORTED QUESTIONS
In fact, it's not so different from reported statements. The tense changes are the same, and we keep the
question word. The very important thing though is that, once we tell the question to someone else, it isn't a
question any more. So we need to change the grammar to a normal positive sentence. Common
reporting verbs for questions: asked /wondered/wanted to know.
WH- QUESTIONS REPORTING VERB+WH- QUESTION PRONOUN+SUBJECT+VERB
(CHANGED INTO ITS CORRESPONDING PAST TENSE)+COMPLEMENTS.
Direct speech: "Where do you live?" Reported speech: She asked me where I lived.
Direct speech: "Do you like chocolate?" Reported speech: She asked me if I liked chocolate.
Direct Request
Reported Request
TEACHER FONSI 4
BOULEVARD ENGLISH CENTER
If someone doesn't ask so politely, it is called an 'order' in English. For example: Direct speech: "Sit down!"
Reported speech: She told me to sit down.
Direct Order
Reported Order
Go to bed!
Don't worry!
SUGGESTIONS
They are usually reported with a that-clause. "That" and "should"
are optional in these clauses:
She said: "Why don't you get a mechanic to look at the car?" She suggested that I should get a mechanic to
look at the car. OR She suggested I get a mechanic to look at the car.
NOTE! Other reporting verbs used in this way are: insist, recommend, demand, request, propose.
NOTES! Suggest can also be followed by a gerund: I suggested postponing the visit to the
dentist.
Examples:
a. "It would be a good idea to see the dentist", said my mother.
__ My mother suggested I see the dentist. / My mother suggested seeing the dentist.
b. The dentist said, "I think you should use a different toothbrush".
__ The dentist recommended that I should use a different toothbrush. / The dentist recommended
using a different toothbrush
c. "Why don't you sleep overnight at my house?" she said.
__ She suggested that I should sleep overnight at her house./ She suggested sleeping overnight at her
house